Dimming unit, and liquid crystal display device
The present invention relates to a dimming unit including: a dimming panel; and drive circuitry, the dimming panel sequentially including a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate, the first substrate sequentially including an insulating substrate, a lower-layer electrode, a first insulating layer, multiple first electrodes, a second insulating layer, and a second electrode which is provided with multiple parallel linear electrodes and to which a constant voltage is applied, the first electrodes including multiple island electrodes which are spaced from each other in a plan view and are electrically connected to each other, at least one of the island electrodes being electrically connected to the lower-layer electrode through a contact hole, the drive circuitry controlling voltages applied to the respective first electrodes.
1. A dimming unit comprising:
a dimming panel; and
drive circuitry,
the dimming panel sequentially including a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate,
the first substrate sequentially including an insulating substrate, a lower-layer electrode, a first insulating layer, multiple first electrodes, a second insulating layer, and a second electrode which is provided with multiple parallel linear electrodes and to which a constant voltage is applied,
the first electrodes each including multiple island electrodes which are spaced from each other in a plan view and are electrically connected to each other,
at least one of the island electrodes being electrically connected to the lower-layer electrode through a contact hole,
the drive circuitry controlling voltages applied to the respective first electrodes.
2. The dimming unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the island electrodes are arranged in a manner that an electrode area occupancy decreases toward an outer periphery of each of the first electrodes,
at least one of the island electrodes of a selected electrode of the first electrodes is disposed in a position between the island electrodes of a next electrode, and
at least one of the island electrodes of the next electrode is disposed in a position between the island electrodes of the selected electrode.
3. The dimming unit according to claim 2 ,
wherein the lower-layer electrode overlaps a space between the island electrodes of the selected electrode and the island electrodes of the next electrode in a plan view.
4. The dimming unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein at least one of the island electrodes has a quadrangular planar shape.
5. The dimming unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein at least one of the island electrodes has an outer peripheral shape including a linear portion that forms an angle of −30° to +300 with respect to an extending direction of the linear electrodes of the second electrode, provided that in a view seen from a second substrate end, an angle formed in a clockwise direction is defined to be a negative angle and an angle formed in a counterclockwise direction is defined to be a positive angle.
6. The dimming unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein at least one of the island electrodes has a planar shape including a curved portion.
7. The dimming unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first substrate includes multiple connection lines connecting the respective first electrodes and the drive circuitry.
8. The dimming unit according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the first electrodes further includes a base electrode provided with multiple apertures,
the island electrodes surround the base electrode in a plan view,
the base electrode is electrically connected to the lower-layer electrode through another contact hole,
at least one of the island electrodes of a selected electrode of the first electrodes is disposed in a position inside at least one of the apertures of a next electrode, and
at least one of the island electrodes of the next electrode is disposed in a position inside at least one of the apertures of the selected electrode.
9. The dimming unit according to claim 8 ,
wherein the apertures provided in the base electrode are arranged in a manner that an aperture area occupancy increases from a center toward an outer periphery of the base electrode.
10. The dimming unit according to claim 8 ,
wherein the lower-layer electrode overlaps a space between the apertures provided in the base electrode of the selected electrode and the island electrodes of the next electrode in a plan view.
11. The dimming unit according to claim 8 ,
wherein at least one of the apertures has a quadrangular outer peripheral shape.
12. The dimming unit according to claim 8 ,
wherein at least one aperture has an outer peripheral shape including a linear portion that forms an angle of −30° to +30° with respect to an extending direction of the linear electrodes of the second electrode, provided that in a view seen from a second substrate end, an angle formed in a clockwise direction is defined to be a negative angle and an angle formed in a counterclockwise direction is defined to be a positive angle.
13. The dimming unit according to claim 8 ,
wherein at least one of the apertures includes an outer peripheral shape including a curved portion.
14. A liquid crystal display device comprising:
an image-providing liquid crystal panel;
a backlight; and
a dimming unit between the image-providing liquid crystal panel and the backlight,
the dimming unit comprising:
a dimming panel; and
drive circuitry,
the dimming panel sequentially including a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate,
the first substrate sequentially including an insulating substrate, a lower-layer electrode, a first insulating layer, multiple first electrodes, a second insulating layer, and a second electrode which is provided with multiple parallel linear electrodes and to which a constant voltage is applied,
the first electrodes including multiple island electrodes which are spaced from each other in a plan view and are electrically connected to each other,
at least one of the island electrodes being electrically connected to the lower-layer electrode through a contact hole,
the drive circuitry controlling voltages applied to the respective first electrodes.
15. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 14 ,
wherein the image-providing liquid crystal panel includes multiple pixels including sub-pixels of multiple colors and being arranged in a matrix in a plane, and
the island electrodes include an overlapping electrode portion overlapping the sub-pixels of all colors included in one pixel.
16. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 15 ,
wherein in the overlapping electrode portion, a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value among electrode areas overlapping the respective sub-pixels of the respective colors is 30% or less of the maximum value.
17. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 14 ,
wherein the image-providing liquid crystal panel includes multiple pixels including sub-pixels of multiple colors and being arranged in a matrix in a plane, and
the apertures include an overlapping aperture portion overlapping the sub-pixels of all colors included in one pixel.
18. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 17 ,
wherein in the overlapping aperture portion, a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value among aperture areas overlapping the respective sub-pixels of the respective colors is 30% or less of the maximum value.